Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard’s maiden managerial spell in senior football as new Rangers boss has handed him plenty off challenges on and off the field. The demands are high and a massive uplift is needed to match the standards of great rivals Celtic who are not at all impacted by the Gers’ return to Premiership football and clinched a ‘double treble’ under ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers as well as humiliated the Light Blues time and again while locking horns in Old Firm derbies.
Gerrard, therefore, is not only busy in reconfiguring the squad by bringing in new resources but also fighting hard to keep hold of his key players who are frequently drawing the attention of many top-notch outfits.
Josh Windass, the 24-year-old English attacker, joined from League Two side Accrington Stanley on a free transfer a couple of years back but excelled last season in the Gers’ attacking third, notching 18 and assisting 8 goals in 41 appearances altogether. He, alongside Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier, belong to the brighter side of a gloomy season at Ibrox and his great run earned him a contract extension offer back in February that he penned to stretch his stay until summer, 2021.
But the new deal has not been enough to fend off interest from big boys of Premier League, most notably newly promoted Cardiff City, who are reportedly plotting a £1.5m bid to acquire the youngster and make him their third summer signing having already roped in Norwich City winger Josh Murphy and left-back Greg Cunningham from Preston North End. Manager Neil Warnock has monitored his growth in Glasgow and believes Windass is ready now to make an impact in the top-tier of English football joining the Welsh giants.
Gerrard, meanwhile, will not want to lose out on his key resources and wants to build up a competent squad centring his prized assets. Although he has tied down Jamie Murphy on a permanent basis and wrapped up Scott Arfield on a Bosman transfer, Windass is still a player of massive influence in their attacking third. He is swift down the left flank and also suits well in an attacking midfield role as well as secondary striker behind the ‘number 9’.
He is pacy, intelligent with his runs, has great shooting traits and looks menacing from counter-attacking movements. The Light Blues need another prolific goalscorer alongside Morelos, but the Englishman is viewed as one of the most influential figures of Gerrard’s Rangers revolution.
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It’s hard to ignore when clubs from Premier League knock on the door, but the aura of the Liverpool great will send a strong statement of intent if Windass is successfully retained at Ibrox beyond the summer transfer window.
